I have a question about dividing that I’m not sure how to label. Multiple “correct methods” but different answers.
So here is a real life scenario that happened, and tell me how you would divide this cost up.
My dad went on a fishing trip with 3 other guys (4 people total) in which they rented a little cottage house that cost $600 for 4 days. My dad and 1 other guy were going to spend all 4 days there but the other two would only spend 3 days. So they all decided to split the cost per person depending on the number of days they were each staying.
So I calculated it like this:
- Total days spent: 4(dad)+4(guy2)+3(guy3)+3(guy4)=14
- 600\14=42.85
- Dad and guy2 pay: 4x42.85=171.4 each
- guy3 and guy 4 pay: 3x42.85=128.55 each
- check: 171.4+171.4+128.55+128.55=599.9
My dad calculated it like this (costing him more):
- 600/4=150 per day
- Day 1: 150/2 people=75
- Days 2-4: 150/4 people=37.5
- Dad and Guy2: 75+37.5+37.5+37.5=187.5 each
- Guy3 and Guy4: 37.5+37.5+37.5=112.5 each
- check: 187.5+187.5+112.5+112.5=600
The question is, who is right? Are there just multiple methods and you choose one depending on what you find fair or not? Is there some kind of theory/explanation for this type of problem? I feel like this question would pose a problem in other parts of life, like government spending/ diving bills with friends/ etc….